Watch-regulator



(No Model.)

G. P. REED.

WATCH REGULATOR. No. 311,609. Patented Feb. 8, 1885.

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UN TED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

GEORGE POTTER REED, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATCH -REGU LATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,609, dated February 3, 1885.

Application filed June 80, 1884.

T 0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, Gnonen POTTER Reno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vatch-Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the ace-om? panying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to watch-regulators, so called, in which hitherto a toothed quadrant-rack engages a similarly-toothed pinion, and to the shaft of the latter is attached a star-wheel, whereby the movement of the quadrant is effected and the watch regulated.

My invention consists in obviating the diliiculties now existing in the use of a regulator made as above premised, and I employ inlien thereof a segment of a circle and an actuatin g frictionroll with smooth peripheries, while the necessary friction between them to render the parts effective is obtained by employing a spring-actuated shaft, upon which the frictionrod is mounted and'by means of which a 0011- stant yet yielding contact is always maintained between the peripheries. The various operative parts of the regulator will be more fully hereinafter described.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Figure 1 a plan, and Fig. 2 a back view, of a regulator embodying my invention, while Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the quadrant and its roll, and Fig. 4is amodified form of the bearing-surfaces.

In these drawings, A represents the balance-bridge, B the balance, and O the spring, of a watch containing my regulator. Upon that portion of the bridge inclosing the staff of the balance I have fitted an annular ring, to which is attached the quadrant a. This quadrant, contrary to general usage, has a smooth periphery, as in the application of a regulator with a toothed quadrant and pinion much difficulty has been found in obtaining the proper degree of interlocking. If too much, the two parts do not run smoothly and (N0 model.)

their motion is slightly irregular; but if not sufficient, then lost motion ensues, either of which seriously affects the efficacy of the regulator. This periphery of the segment of a circle, a, is beveled, as shown at b, and coincides with a similar opposite bevel, 0, out on the friction-roll (Z, in order to obviate any tendency of the segment to ride up and thereby lessen the friction. An evident modification of this bevel, and one which is found very efficient, is to have the segment a V-shaped, to iit a corresponding V-shaped notch in the periphery of the frictioiri'oll. As the segment is to be operated by friction alone with the friction-roll, it is necessary to have the latter spring-actuated, as a simple frictionroller would not suiiice, owing to irregularities existing in the peripheries of the contactsurfaces, and at times it would be too tight or loose, as may be, and therefore useless. I have consequently cut a slot, 6, in the bal ance-bridge somewhat larger than the frictionroll shaft f, to permit the latter to move freely in any direction, and to obtain the requisite friction by maintaining the periphery of said i'rietio11-roll continuously in contact with that of the segment I have mounted the frictionroll shaft f in the extremity of a spring, 0, attached to the under side of the balance-bridge. By this arrangement the tension of the spring maintains the friction-roll in constant but yielding contact with the periphery of the quadrant, and the strength of the spring may be varied more or less, asis desired, whilethe shaft upon which the 'l'riction-roll is mounted is always carried in paths of movement at right angles to the surface of the balancebridge.

Beneath the .ll'lGtlOlhlOl'l and secured to the shaft f, I have placed the star-wheel D, and by movement of the latter rotation is imparted to the friction-roll and movement given to the quadrant in either direction, while, owing to the yielding cont-act maintained by the spring, a minimum effect is produced upon the watch by the quadrant.

My invention is very simple, easily and cheaply constructed, and positive in its operation, while decidedly better results are ob tained than by a regulator combining the toothed quadrant and pinion.

I do not desire to be limited to the particular form of peripheries herein shown of the I automatically holds said roll against said seg- IO quadrant and friction-roll, as the two may be i went, substantially as set forth.

sections of cylinders; but In testimony whereof I affix my signature in WVhat I consider as my invention, and (le presence of two witnesses.

5 sire to secure by Letters Patent, isv a I r 1 5 1 In a watch-regulator, a balance-wheel, but GLORGE P01 Um LEM) nice-spring lever, and toothless segment, in \Vitnesses:

combination with a friction-roll which is in H. L. LODGE,

contact with said segment, andaspring which A. F. HAYDEN. 

